“Shhh, easy there. It’s me, Grace,” her sister whispered in her gentlest tone.
“Hmm? Grace?” Faith rasped; her prickly voice was barely audible. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been here for a few hours,” she said as Faith opened her eyes fully. The room was semidark, with only a few oil lamps lit, which gave the room an ominous glow. “But I’m afraid you’ve been in and out of consciousness. You are quite unwell.”
“It’s only a cold.”
“I don’t think so.”
“It is. I’ll be better in the morning. You needn’t have troubled yourself in coming here.”
For a moment, neither spoke. Faith glanced at her sister, whose mouth was pursed. Grace rarely, if ever, let her emotions show, but right now, they were displayed on her face. Faith began to worry. “What is it?”
“It seems your fever has come on rather quickly and your rest not been peaceful. I’m of the mind that you have pneumonia.”
Faith closed her eyes, aware that pneumonia was a severe condition. Her sister had been particularly interested in the sickness several years ago while reading one of her books on illnesses. Grace had talked at length about it to anyone who was close enough to listen and Faith had often been the closest to her.
“Is that the one with the sickness in the lungs?” Faith asked.
“An infection, yes. It’s most dangerous in weak children and the elderly, which I have advised Arabella to keep her father downstairs, lest he catches it. But I’m afraid you have to be on bedrest for at least a week, if not longer.”
Faith closed her eyes tightly, trying to fight the desire to cough. She didn’t want to be here when Logan returned.
“I can’t stay here for that long. I don’t wish to be here when Mr. Harris returns. You must take me home.”
But Grace only shook her head.
“I’m afraid you have no choice. To move you would only distract your body from fighting off the infection. I’m sure Mr. Harris will not mind.” Faith gave a little, unbelieving snort, but her sister continued. “Now Dr. Barkley will be here in the morning to reassess your condition. He will be able to diagnosis you properly, but I’m quite sure I’ve identified it.”
Faith tried to raise her arm, to grip her sister’s hand in a pleading way, but she found that her limbs were unbearably heavy, and the scratch in her throat would not desist. Tired from even their short conversation, Faith nodded and hoped that she might be able to sleep through the worst of it.
“Three days,” she said as sleep overtook her. “I need to leave in three days.”
But Grace merely shushed her and patted her clammy forehead as Faith fell into a dreamless sleep.
Faith was in and out of consciousness for the next three days, with her fever ebbing and flowing in the most uncomfortable ways. When she was hot, she was scorching, her body dripping in sweat. When she was cold, she was freezing, and no amount of blankets, furs, soups, or teas could make her comfortable. And perhaps she might have been able to handle that if not for the persistent cough that had come upon her suddenly.
Thankfully, Grace decided to stay at Harris House after Dr. Barkley confirmed her diagnosis. Grace had been diligent in her requests that no one enter Faith’s room in an effort to sequester the illness. It was a rather radical method that Dr. Barkley believed was unnecessary. Still, Faith was glad that no one aside from her sister and a few of the maids would see her in the stateshe was in, so she entirely agreed with her sister’s decision to keep everybody away.
Save Jaco, who had become something of a guard dog, occasionally frightening off even the staff with a deep growl whenever he sensed Faith’s unease at being seen. It was remarkable that an animal could be so aware of her feelings. She hoped Logan wouldn’t be annoyed with the dog for being so disloyal.
Not everyone was frightened off by the giant black dog, however. Late during the fifth night of her illness, Faith was awakened when she heard her door open. She was lying on her side, facing away from the door, and barely opened her eyes when Grace’s harsh whisper sounded behind her.
“Sir, no one is permitted in here.”
“I appreciate your professional opinion, Miss Sharpe,” Logan’s deep voice vibrated. Faith’s heart beat erratically as she strained to hear him. “But I won’t be dictated to in my own home.”
“Then you must think of this room as not a part of your home, but as a sick room. Faith needs rest, and any interruption to that rest may interfere with her recovery.”
Though she couldn’t see him, Faith knew Logan was at odds with her sister. He disliked being ordered about, especially in his own home, and she waited to hear him argue. He would no doubt bicker with Grace.
“Very well,” he said suddenly, causing Faith to frown. Why was he never so accommodating with her? She had half a mind to roll over when he spoke again. “How is she faring?”
“She is a little better today, though it was quite a nasty fever in the beginning. I’m sure she will make a full recovery, should she continue to improve.”
“Had I known she was sick, I would have returned immediately.”
A pause hung in the air.
